-~l14- especially to the practice of "pelting" potatoes. With all hands bending to their work, it was all but impossible for some jokester to refrain from drawing a bead on a posterior that loomed up a few yards ahead. A. direct hit was inevitably followed by retaliation in kind, which resulted in the disruption of the smoothly running operation. Skylarking, if persisted in

after a warning, brought summary dismissal from the field.

In mid-forenoon came a short break while the loaded carts were driven to the storage cellar. At most farms, a basket was now brought to the field, heaped high with bannocks, bread and butter, thick slices of roast or corne¢

Steer, and bottles of tea. This repast saw us through until noon and dinner time. Weariness and aching joints were forgotten as we crowded around the big kitchen table for a meal that is still a delight to remember. Corned beef and cabbage was a frequent main item, with potatoes, all kinds of vegetables, huge slices of freshly baked bread, strong tea heavily laced with cream -- all topped off with tremendous slices of pie: apple, cherry, rhubarb, and strawberry, with seconds and thirds for all who could find space for them. Meals such as these were also provided at threshing time; it was a matter of pride for the housewife to outdo her neighbors by the

quantity and quality of the food offered in her kitchen on these Occasions.

After @ short breathing.space, it was back to the field until darkness called a halt. The afternoon always seemed to Slip past much more rapidly than did the morning stint; the work, too, was less tiring as joints and muscles became inured to the strains put upon them. And when we returned to the house, supper awaited -- a spread that in all respects ran a close second to the noonday meal.

With completion of the job came "settling-up" time -- payday.

Incredible though it may Seem, our hopes were set on a top figure of

) twenty-five cents a day. On very rare occasions, we had to settle for